Power transmission for wheels



Sept. 23 1924.

H. R. HOLMES POWER TRANSMISSION FOR WHEELS Original Filed Sent. 22. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 R MN m R R an n v a. km 9m wm m QN wWk M N$DN Sep 1924. I 15 919 t H. R. HOLMES 7 Re POWER TRANSMISSION FOR WHEELS Original Filed Sent. 22. 1919 5 Shoots-Shoot 2 b& v bk I INVENTOR.

ATTOR EY 7 as K Sept. 23 1924. Re. 15,919

H. R. HOLMES POWER TRANSMISSION FOR WHEELS Original Filed Sept. 22; 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 23, 1924. Re. 15,919

H. R. HOLMES POWER TRANSMISSION FOR WHEELS Original Filed Spt. 22, 1919 3 Sh'eetswSheet 4 .9 RP I v l I um/Toni Sept. 23 1924. R 15,919

H. R. HOLMES POWER TRANSMISSION FOR WHEELS Original Filed Sent. 22 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 20 carrying a fell 25 turntable and the eye to mediate] rotation of the same for steeri Reiaaued Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITED. STATES MGR B. norm,

PATENT OFFICE.

POWER TRANSIISSI ON FOB Original I0. 1,877,131, dated I! 8, 1821, Serial No. 885,476, fi led leptember 28, 1919. Application for.

reissue fled larch $0, 1888. Serial Io. 688,889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARLEIGH R. Homtns, a citizen of the United States, residin at the city and county of Denver, State of olorado, have invented an Improvement in Power Transmission for Wheels; andI do declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description 0 the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompan ing drawi and to the characters 0 reference mar ed thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The ob'ect of this invention is to provide a device a means of which power may be transmitt to wheels and at the same time the wheels may be steered.

Briefly, the invention comprises a hub and tire rotatable about a horizontal-she within which is mounted a turntable on which there rests in turning relation an e e on the end of a stub axle. A cylindrica member passes through the ition the latter on the turntable, and a driven shaft extends throu h the stub axle, the eye and said cylin rical member, the end of the shaft ex- I tending beyond the front face of the hub 30 and being connected with a yoke, the ends of which are turned back over the outside of the hub and connected at diametricall opposed ints by ball and sockeuoints wit a ring w ich in turn is connect by interpositioned ball and socket joints to the hub. All of these ball and socket oints normally lie in the transverse median plane of the hub. By this construction power can be eflectively transmitted to the hub during purposes. This is an improvement on my atent No. 1,289,763, granted December 31st, 1918.

In the drawings:

,Figure 1 is a vertical lon 'tudinal section 45 taken on the lines 1-1 of Flgs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken on the lines 22 of igs. 1 and 3.

Fi 5 m a vertical transverse section approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

4 is a view showing the hub, stub axle ,55 of Fig. 4.

and transmission means in side elevation, and showin the plates connecting the hub with the fel y and tire partially broken away to disclose the. hub.

Fig. 5'is a partial front view from the line Fi 6 is a rear view of the hub taken from the line 6 of Fig. 4 to show the attach-- ment of the steering arm.

Figs. 7 and 8 are res ectively front and side elevations of the huh proper.

, Figs. 9,110 and 11 are res tively front elevation, side elevation and ttom view of the horizontal shell mounted within the hub. Figs. 12 and 13 are res tively face and edge elevations of one of t e cones for entergailning the balls between the shell and the I Figs. 14 and 15 are front and edge elevations of the retaining ring'for the cone, a

portion of Fi 15 being broken away to show the internal reading. 2

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 (Sheet 3) are respectively front elevation, side elevation and lan view of the turntable positioned in the ttom of the shell.

Fig: 19 is a vertical transverse section through the turntable taken on the line 19-19 of Fig. 17.

' Figs. 20, 21 and 22 (Sheet 1 are respectively side elevation, front elevation and plan view of the stub axle and its eye, which rest upon the turntable.

. Figs. 23, 24 and 25 (Sheet 2) are respectively bottom view, side elevation and front elevation of the vertical sleeve at the top of the horizontal shell for positioning the upper portion of the vertical cylinder which reta ns the eye on the turntable.

F i 26 and 27 are respectively lan view and ront view of the vertical cylind er, which positions the eye on the turntable.

Figs. 28 and 29 (Sheet 1) are face and edge views of the brass packing or spacin rin between the vertical sleeve and vertica cylinder of Figs. 23 to 27 The hub 30 is provided interiorly adjacent its front and rear faces with ball races 31 for balls 32 retained by cones which are held in position by retaining rings 35 is formed on a circle to fit the shell 36. The

turntable has a vertical'opening 41.- and upper and lower ball races 42 and 43 are provided above and below this ning 41 respectively. Balls and 52 are coated in the races 42 and 43 respectively and the-balls 45 are held in place by the ball retainer 44. The eye 46 of the fixed stub axle 47 rests upon the balls 45 and the turntable has a rotary motion with respect to the eye of the stub axle. A vertical cylinder 50, having a lower annular flange 51, formed with a ball race to receive balls 52, projects upwardly through the opening 41 of the turntable and through the eye 46, the balls 52 travelin on the ball race 43 of the turntable and on .t e flange 51 of the vertical positioning cylinder 50.

The under side of the shell 36 has a large circular opening 53 to permit passage of the cylinder during assembling operations,

and the turntable 40 has an open space of similar proportions.

A ring 54 is threaded on to the upper threaded portion 55 of the cylinder 50 to retain the cylinder in proper position within the turntable 40 and the eye 46. This ring 54 also serves as a means for 8(1111Stment to take up wear of the bearings. A;

vertical positioning -sleeve 56 has its upper end 57 positioned in an opening58 on the top of the shell 36, the openlng 58-be1ng .smaller than the lower opening 53min the shell. The opposite end of the vertical sleeve 56 is shouldered as shown at 59, and projects downwardly within the upper portion of the verticalcylinder 50 to assist in positioning the latter and to form a rigid pivot for the eye 46, in conjunction with the cylinder 50. A brass packing or spac ing ring 60 is itioned on the top of the c linder 50 an between the shoulder of the s eeve 56. i

A drive shaft 65, passes through the longitudinal openin 66 in the stub axle 47, through the horizontally disposed opening 67 in the outer end of the eye 46, and through the openings 68 in the vertically positioned cylinder50. The outer end of the shaft extends beyond the front of the hub and is fixed as by a squaredend 69,

in a yoke 70 retained on the shaft 65 by a nut 71. The ends of the yoke are curved back over the middle of the hub 30 and are provided with 72'and sockets 73, formed on a ring 74. These ball and socket joints 72 and 73 are diametricallyopposed and, t. points equitransverse median j oints" comprisingnballs distantly disposed between these ball and.

socket joints, a second pair of diametrically dis d joints is provided, com rising soc ets 75 on the ring 74 and balls 6 connected with the hub 30 at 77. The joints 72, 73, are always positioned in the vertical (plane of the eye 46 and vertical linder 5 and approximately at right ang es to the shaft 65; this is because the yoke-70 maintains a definite relation with respect to the drive shaft 65 and the eye 46. The ball and socket joints 75, 76, normally are positioned in said median plane, t at is, when the wheels are steered strai t ahead. It is obvious that when the whee s are set at an angle-the joints '75, 76, will be ina plane at an angle to the shaft 65. Thejoints 72, 73 and 75, 76 form a universal oint connection between the axle and the wheel. In order to'com changes in length due to changes in tempera- .ture any suitable connections 78 (Fig. 3)

maybe used.

The hub 30 is rovided with a rear annular flange 8O and front plates 82 and 83, whose peripheries are in turn bolted to a felly 84, adapted to carry a rim and tire 85; The front plate 83 is cut away at 86, as shown in Fig. 4 to permit of the necessary amount of oscillation of the yoke 70; and the upper and lower parts of the flange 81 are also cut away as at 87 to permit this oscillation. The yoke 70 projects throu h the plate 83 and requires an additional housing cap 88, which is bolted to the front plate 83 to exclude dust, mud, rain and the like. A steering arm 90 is secured by means of screws 91 to the rear face of the turntable 40 to impart rotary shell 36 and hub 30.

From the foregoing it will be clear that the turntable 40 wili rotate beneath the eye 46-and.about the cylinder 50 as a carrying with it the shell 36 and hu 30. The shaft 65 will retain its relation with res reference I to the steering motion to the yoke 70 will be by the ball and socket joints 72, 73. The ball and socket joints 75, 76, will permit movement such as will enable the angularly disposed portions of the ring 74 to assume positions in vertical planes at angles to the axis of the shaft 65.

The joints 72, 73, will always travel in the vertical I transverse 'an plane through the eye 46, which plane is rendicular to the shaft 65, while the joints 5, 76 will travel in the vertical median plane of the hub 30 whatever its position maybe. As lon given position, t e peth-ofmovement 0f nsate for v a front annular flange 81 to which are bolted respectively rear and ivot,

ct to the eye 46, as will the yoke 7Q, the steering motion of the hub 30'with as the hub 30 is satin a the joints 75, 76, will be in a given plane,

but as the hub 30 is turned during the steerin {saints 5, 6, will be variable,the movement ing a sort of oscillatory motion.

I claim;

1. A power transmission forvehicles includin a shaft, a cylinder mounted thereon, a ell, means for connceting the shell with the cylinder, and a hub mounted upon the shell.

the axis of the shaft, and the other 2. A power transmission for vehicles including a shaft, a cylinder mounted thereon, a shell connected with the cylinder, and a' hub enclosing the cylinder and shell and capable of turning on two axes, one' of which is coincident with the shaft, and the other with the central axis of the cylinder.

3. A power transmission for. vehicles including a shaft, a cylinder mounted thereon, the axes of the shaft and cylinder intersecting at ri t-angles, a shell mounted u n the cylin er, and a i.-ub capable of turnln on two axes, one of which is coincident m the central axis of the cylinder.

4. A power transmision for vehicles includinf a shaft, a cylinder mounted thereon, a shel mounted upon the cylinder and rotatably connected therewith, and a hub rotatabl connected with the shell.

' 5. 1 wer tranmnission for vehicles including a sha a hub surrounding a pertion thereof, an a universal 'oint construction in the traction plane 0 a wheel and exteriorly of the hub.

6. A power transmision for vehicles including a hub, a drive-shaft, a yoke pivotally connected with the hub, a wheel, bearings on o ,posite sides of the pivotal points of the yo and a universal 'oint construc tion connecting the drive-s to the wheel, the center of the universal joint construct'ion being coincident with the centers of the pivotal points of the yoke and of the wheel.

7. A power transmission for vehicles includin a hub, a drive-shaft therein, a oke ivota y connected with the hub, a w eel, 'ngs on opposite sides of the pivotal points of the yoke and mounting the wheel on the yoke, and a universal 'oint construction connecting the drive-aha to the wheel, the center of the universal joint construction lying in the central plane of the wheel and being coincident with the centers of the pivotal points of the yoke and of the wheel.

8. A power tranon for motor vehicles including a hub, a drive-shaft therein,

a yoke connected with the drive-shaft, means for ivotally connecting the yoke with the hu a wheel ha its center coincidentinwith the center p 91:05::

armgs on opposite s1; o

pivotal points of the yoke and mounting the wheel on the yoke, and a universal )omt o ration, the movement of these construction concentric with the pivotal means and connecting said drive-shaft to the wheel.

9. A power transmission for vehicles including a hub, a drive-shaft therein, a wheel, a ring pivotally mounted at two diametrically opposite ints on, and disposed around the hu a 0;: for operatively connecting the driveaft to the ring at two intermediate points, and pivots within the central plane of the wheel and the ring for connectmi the yoke with the hub.

10. power transmission for vehicles including an axle, a hub, a ring pivotally connected with the hub, and a yoke connected with the axle and pivotally connected with the ring at diametrically o posite ints.

11. A power transmission or vehic es including an axle, a hub concentric therewith,

a cylindrical element, a ring surrounding.

the hub and ivotally connected with the hub at two iametrically opposite points and means connected with the outer, ends of the axle and extending in op ite directions around the hub and ivota y connected to the ring ,at diametrically o posite points midway between the points OFCODDOOHOD of the rin with the hub. 1

12. n axle, a hub rotatable about one end of said axle, a vertically disposed ivo tal connection between the axle end an the hub and passing throu b said axle end, a drive sh hub to the front. of the hub, and a connection between the forward end of the shaft and the outer sides of the hub.

13. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable about said shell, an'axle havi one end extending t rough the axle and extending into said shell, vertically dis-- posed pivotin means mmmted in said shell and passing t rough said axle, and a drive shaft'extending through said axle to the front of said hub and shell, and a driving connection between the forward end of the shaft and the outer sides of the hub.

14. An axle, a hub rotatable about an end of the axle, a drive shaft extending through the axle and the hub, and a. drivin connection between the end of the sha and the outer side of the hub, said connection com rising a yoke connected with the end of e shaft and extendin rections and back over t e hu and an annular member pivotally connected with the overhangi oppositely disposed portions of the yo and pivotally connected with the hub.

an back over the ub, an an annular member in op to directions and,

in o posite di- Ill connected with the overhanging oppositely disposeiportions of the yoke and plvotally connect with the hub.

16. A hub, an axle extending into the hub and about which the hub is rotatable, a drive shaft extending through the axle and the hub with its outer end positioned beyond the hub, and a driving connection between the outer shaft end and the outer surface of the hub, said connection comprising a yoke connected with the end of the'shaft and extendin in o posite directions and back over the hui, and an annular member pivotally connected with the overhanging oppositely disposed portions of the yoke and ivotally connected with the hub, said pivota connections of said annular member comprising ball andysocket joints.

.17. An axle, a hub rotatable about the end thereof, a verticall disposed pivotal connection within the ub and between the hub and said axle end, a drive shaft extending through the axle and hub to the front of the hub, a yoke fixedly secured on the end of the shaft! and extending in opposite directions and backward tooverhang the outer sides of and the overhanging the hub, and connections between the hub portions of the yoke. 18. An axle, a h rotatable about the end thereof, a vertically disposed pivotal connection within the hub and between the hub and saidaxle end, a drive shaft extending through the axle and hub to the front of the hub, a yoke fixed on the end of the shaft and extending in opposite directions and backward to overhang the outer sides of the hub,

. and connections between the hub and the overhanging portions of the yoke, the last mentioned connections comprising an outer member positioned around the hub having pivotal connections with the overhanging yoke portions, and also having pivotal connections with the hub at points intermediate the points of connection with the yoke.

19. An axle, a hub rotatable about the end thereof, a vertically disposed pivotal connection within the hub and between the hub and said axle end, a drive shaft extending through the'axle and hub to the front of the hub, a yoke fixed on the end of the shaft and extending in opposite directions and backward to overhang the outer sides of the hub, and connections between the hub and the overhanging portions of the yoke, the he mentioned connections comprising an outer member positioned around the hub having pivotal connections with the overhanging yoke portions, and also having pivotal connections with the hub at points intermediate the points of connection with the yoke, the pivot. points. between said outer membenand the'yo e normally be' located in a vertical plane at right angles to said shaft and passing through the axis of said vertical pivotal connection.

20. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable about said shell, .an axle having one end extending into said shell, verticallfi' pivoting means fixed in said she an connected with said axle end, a drive shaft extending thro h said axle to the front of said hub and ell, and a driving connection between the forward end of the shaft and the outer sides of the hub.

21. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable about said shell, an axle having one end extending into said shell, verticall disposed pivoting means fixed in said sh l and connected with said axle end, a drive shaft extending through said axle to the front of said hub and shell, a yoke. fixed to the forward end of the shaft and extending in opposite directions and backward to overthe outer sides of the hub, and connections between the overhan 'ng ends'of the yoke and the outer sides 0 the hub.

22. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable about said shell, an axle having one end extending into said shell, vertically dis pivoting means mounted in said shel and connected with said axle end, a drive shaft 2 extending through said axle to the front of said hub and shell, a yoke fixed to the forward and of the shaft and extending 'in opposite directions and backward to overhang the outer sides of the hub, and connections between the overhanging ends of the yoke. and the outer sides of the hub, the last mentioned connections comprising an outer member positionedaround the hub having pivotal connections with the overhanging yoke portions, and also having pivotal co nections with the hub at points intermediate the points of connection with the yoke.

23. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable about said shell, an axle having one'end extending into said shell, vertically dis pivoting means mounted in said shel and connected with said axle end, a drive shaft said hub and shell, a yoke fixed to the forward end of the shaft and extending in opposite directions and backward to overhang the outer sides of the hub, and connections between the overhanging ends of the yoke and the outer sides of the hub, the last mentioned connections comprising an outer member positioned around the hub having pivotal connections with the overhanging yoke portions, and also having pivotal connections with the hub at points intermediate the point of connection with the yoke, the pivot fits between said outer member and the yo e normally being located in a vertical plane at right angles to said shaft and pivotal connection.

extending through said axle to'the front of '110 24. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable about said shell, an axle having one end extending into said shell, vertically disposed pivoting means mounted in said shell and connected with said axle end, a drive shaft extending through said axle to the front of said hub and shell, a yoke fixed to the forward end of the shaft and extending in opposite directions and backward to overhang the outer sides of the hub, connections between the overha g ends of the yoke and the outer sides of the hub, the last mentioned connections comprising an outer member positioned around the hub having ivotal connections with the overhanging yo e portions, and havi pivotal connections with the hub at points intermediate the about said shell, an axle having points of connection with the yoke, the ivot points between said outer member an the yoke normally being located in a vertical plane at ri ht angles to said shaft and passlng throng the axis of said vertical pivotal connection, and means connected w'ith the shell for turning the, hub upon a vertical 26. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable tending into said shell, vertically dis d pivoting means mounted in said shel and through said axle and, a drive shaft said hub and shell, ayke fixed to the forward end of the shaft'and extending in opposite directions and'backward to overhang the outer sides of the hub, and connections between-the overh and the outer sides 0 the hub.

one end ex-v to the front of ends of the yoke- 27. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable about said shell, an axle having one end extending into said shell, vertically dis pivoting means mounted in said she and passing through and connected with said axle end, a drive shaft extending thro said axle to the front of said hub and she a yoke fixed to the forward end of the shaft and extending in opposite directions and backward to overhang the outer sides of the hub, and connections between the overhan ends of the yoke and the outer sides of t e ub.

28. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable about said shell, an axle having one end ex tending into said shell, 'verticall disposed pivoting means fixed in said sheliand ing thlou h said axle end, a drive'shag tend t rou h said axle to the front of said ha and ell, and a driv' connection between the forward end of the shaft and the outer sides of the hub.

29. An axle, a hub rotatable about one end of said axle, a vertically dispomd ivotal connection between the axle end a the hub and passing through said axle end, said pivotal connection be adjustable, a drive shaft extending throug the axle and hub to the front of the hub, and a connectiombetween the forward end of the shaft and the outer sides of the hub.

30. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable about said shell, an axle having one end extending into said shell, a vertically disposed pivoting means fixed in said shell and panmg through said axle end, said 'votingmeansbeing adjustable, a drive ft extending through said axle to the front of said hub and ell, and a driving wnnection between the forward end of the shaft and the outer sides of the hub.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARLEIGfI 11 Houses; 

